Hibs in January transfer window: Easter Road side face hold 'em, fold 'em and all-in choices as stakes raised
Revive bid for Scotland striker? Fend off Premier League interest in stars? It won’t be dull ...
A Lyndon Dykes type. Like Lyndon Dykes, maybe? That would be a good place to start, if you were trying to map out a January transfer window plan for Hibs.
Beyond that, the mid-season market carries the potential for all sorts of surprises at Easter Road and East Mains. Including possible departures.
As we are dragged headlong into 33 days of agent-inspired speculation, club-approved spin and occasionally exaggerated wheeling and (almost) dealing at all levels of the game, then, what should Hibs fans look out for? Consider this a cut-out-and-keep guide to priorities and possibilities between now and the deadline on February 2.
You gotta know when to hold ‘em
There will always be noise about the best players hitting peak performance levels. Hence the interest from south of the Border in both Josh Mulligan and Kieron Bowie.
With Bowie, any flash of form is likely to generate attention, simply because he has such a valuable collection of gifts. So eight goals in all competitions this season – seven in the league and one in Europe – is more than enough to pique the interest of Wolves.
Leeds United and Nottingham Forest keen on Mulligan
Mulligan is on the radar, meanwhile, of both Nottingham Forest and Leeds United. No surprise there, either, given his all-action athleticism and general talent profile.
So far, no-one has gone as far as contacting Hibs to even sniff out a potential asking price for either player. But January is a mad window. And the Premier League is more barmy, when it comes to spending money, than any other league on the planet.
Economically, there might come a point where bids for one or two top stars become impossible to ignore. Given the position Hibs find themselves in, though, the asking price surely has to be going up every week.
And when to fold ‘em
There are players – not Bowie or Mulligan – who Hibs might find it easier to part with, emotionally speaking. Not many, in a fairly tight-knit squad.
But Alasana Manneh has been very limited in his game time, even when fit, since arriving last January. Nobody is ever sure how the infuriatingly brilliant Elie Youan is feeling about his future.
In an ideal world, from David Gray’s perspective, he’ll only be keen to offload even fringe players IF there are bodies coming in the door. Which brings us to the ubiquitous January shopping list; even managers who don’t want one tend to have it thrust upon them.
Got, got, need, want … might be persuaded
Going back to where we started, Hibs just missed out on landing Lyndon Dykes on Deadline Day all those months ago. The Scotland striker has only started two league games for Birmingham City all season.
Gray is looking for a Dykes type. Someone who can help ease the burden on Bowie, physically, by leading the line and knocking seven shades of sunshine out of opposition defenders.
There are obviously options out there. Myko Kuharevich isn’t a regular starter for Slovan Bratislava. Just saying …
But Dykes would be a monster hit in the Scottish Premiership. Or does that make too much sense?
Elsewhere in the team, well, it’s all about upgrades. And injuries. The only players coming in will be guys who can improve on the talent already available to Gray.
Truth is a moveable feast
As big a shock as this may be to some of you, not every single piece of transfer gossip you hear or read about over the coming month will be absolutely bang on the money.
Agents, players and clubs themselves understand that it’s not always the worst thing to be linked with a bit of business. By the time some of the whispers emerge, alas, quite often the original interest has been overtaken by events.
Hibs are genuinely smart about not over-committing one way or another, when it comes to negotiations. They understand that a no can become a yes rather quickly, depending on developments eight links along in the chain of market moves.
This hopefully avoids a great deal of confusion. Just bear in mind that the situation as described on a Monday at 11 am could be based on 100 per cent verifiable facts … all of which change by high noon the same day.
Support from on high
Gray is nothing if not grateful for the backing he’s had from the Hibs board. The Gordon family taking a £7 million knock to balance the books in the most recent set of accounts underlines their commitment to giving the manager what he needs to do the job.
“If something can be done that does make the group better, the backing will certainly be there, I'm sure,” said the gaffer. “I don't put it down to: 'I need three, four, five players'.
“I think it's always about looking at the squad and do we think something can be done that makes the group better? It's not just number, it's about making sure it's the right type of people.”